Collapsible carton



y 1965 J. 1.. KOTOWICK 3,184,143

COLLAPSIBLE CARTON Filed Feb. 14, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG] mum/r02 JOSEPH L. korow/ CK WMW y 1965 J. L. KOTOWICK 3,184,143

COLLAPSIBLE CARTON Filed Feb. 14, 1963 4 he ts-Sheet 2 JOSEPH aka ran l CK May 18, 1965 J. L. KOTOWICK COLLAPSIBLE CARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 14, 1963 FIG.8

May 18, 1965 Filed Feb. 14, 1963 J. L. KOTOWICK COLLAPSIBLE CARTON 4 Shee ts-Sheet 4 i l I I I I I FIGJO United States Patent 3,184,143 C(ILLAPSEBLE CARTUN Joseph Lawrence Kotowiclr, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada {986 Pineweli Crescent, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada) Filed Feb. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 258,439 17 Claims. (Cl. 229-428) This invention relates to improvements in a collapsible multiple cell carton and more particularly to a collapsible carton which may be formed from a unitary blank and is adaptable to embodiment in cartons having varying numbers of cells, as for example 6 cell or 12 cell.

Collapsible cartons having dividers or partitions there in are commonly used for carrying bottles and are used in large quantities, generally on high speed production lines. Therefore, they must be of simple construction so that they may be manufactured readily on ordinary equipment and from the standpoint of the user they must be subject to easy erection and loading. The present carton fills these requirements in an advantageous manner.

It is an object of the invention to provide a multiple cell carton which may be readily formed from a unitary blank by the simple folding of the sheet material in one direction, in respect to the plane of the blank, Without the necessity of resorting to complicated reverse folds or special manipulation of the parts to attain locking engagement or assembly of the carton. It is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsed container with integral dividers that may be readily erected to rectangular formation by the mere exertion of pressure on the outer corner folds of the collapsed carton by which means the walls are erected to tubular relation and the bottom closure and integral dividers are automatically formed into operating relation to the carton walls.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a carton of the described character which may be readily collapsed from the open rectangular formation and reereoted at will by the mere exertion of pressure on diagonally opposite corner folds of the carton. These and other objects of the invention relating to details and economies will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the carton may be formed;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the inner surface of the blank after the initial folding operation;

FIGURE 3 is a view showing the completed container in collapsed condition ready for shipping or storage;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of the erected carton with the walls partially broken away;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged horizontal section through line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary inside perspective view partially in section illustrating the dividers and bottom closure part in partiall erected position;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the collapsed container and dividers on a line corresponding to line '77 of FIGURE 3 but slightly expanded for purpose of clarity;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective View of a carton erected from the blank of FIGURE 8 and partially cut away to show the dividers;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of a blank showing a further modification;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton showing the dividers in the carton including the hlddddli Patented May 18, 1965 further modification from the blank shown in FIG- URE 10.

The blank 2% shown in FIGURE 1, viewed from the outer surface thereof, is suitably cut and scored, as indicated by solid lines and dotted lines respectively, to form a carton with integral internal dividers to divide the carton into a 6 cell arrangement. The blank described in terms applicable to the set-up carton includes side wall panels 21 and 22 and end Wall panels 23 and 24. The wall panels are foldably connected b corner scores 25. End Wall panel 24 includes a free side edge 26 and side wall panel 231 has a side edge determined by the fold connection 27 of the connecting flap 28,

The top edge of the wall panels Zl-Zd is determined by a flap score 29 which serves as the hinge connection of the top closure flaps 3! A handhole 31 may be provided as shown in end wall 24- with a hinged tab 32 which is connected to the end panel 24 by the score 33.

The bottom closure flaps 34 are hingedly connected to the bottom edge of the wall panels 21-24 by the flap score 35. The bottom closure flaps 34 include end flaps 36 and 3'7 connected respectively to the end walls 23 and 24. Also included are side flaps 3839 which are connected to the side walls 2142 respectively. Slots 49 separate the respective pairs of bottom flaps 38-36 and 39-37. The slots ii are determined b the side edges 41 which diverge downwardly and outwardly from the junction of the corner scores with the flap score 35. The opposed side edges of the end flaps 3637 are determined by edge 42 which is substantially in alignment with the respective side edges of the associated wall panels 23-24 or offset therefrom in a conventional manner. Said end flaps 3t37 are further provided with angular fold lines 43 disposed at substantially 45 an le to the flap score and intersecting said flap score substantially at the juncture with the corner scores 25. The side flaps 3$39 include angular free side edges 44 disposed at substantially 45 angular relation to the flap score 35 and intersecting said flap score at the juncture with the respective edges 27-25 of the associated side Wall panels 21-22.

The divider assembly 5-5 is foldably connected to the inner end edges of the closure flaps 34 along aligned fold lines 47 and includes longitudinal and transverse divider members which are associated with each of the bottom flaps 36-39 A first divider portion 46 is foldably connected to the end flap 37 by the fold line 47 and is comprised of an end longitudinal member 43, transverse divider member 5-5 and connecting tab St? in foldably connected relation. The transverse member 49 is further provided with a lateral tab 5i struck from the end longitudinal member 48.

A second divider portion 52 is hingedly connected to side flap 33 by fold line d7 and is comprised of a transverse member 53, intermediate longitudinal member 54 and transverse member 55. The transverse member 55 is provided with a lateral tab 56 struck from the intermediate longitudinal member 54.

The divider assembly portions connected to the remaining bottom flaps 3t? and 39' are similar to the beforedescribed portions associated with their counterpart side and end tlaps 37 and 38. Thus, there is associated with the end bottom flap as a divider portion comprising an end longitudinal member id and transverse member 49 and lateral tab 51. The divider portion connected to the side flap 39 is comprised of a transverse member 53, intermediate longitudinal member 54 and transverse member 55 in toldably connected relation. The transverse member 55 is provided with a lateral tab $7. The latter two divider portions, associated with the pair of end and side walls 23 and 22 are in foldabiy connected relation by a score line which is an extension of the score 2.5.

After the container blank in FIGURE 1 is cut and scored as described above, the first folding operation shown in FIGURE 2 requires the folding of the bottom closure flaps 36-39 and associated divider assembly 45 about the flap score 35 into flatwise relation to the inner surface of the wall panels 21-24. Adhesive areas as denoted by the stipuled areas are applied'to the closure flaps and divider assembly. More particularly the adhesive is applied to the triangular portions 53 of the end flaps 36-37, the lateral tabs 51, 5d and 57, and the connecting tab 50. It is to be noted that the stipuled areas are extended to include the surfaces that will be in face contacting relation with the adhesive coated areas and it is obvious that the adhesive may be applied to either one or both of the surfaces that are adhesivel bonded together.

Continuing the assembly operation, as the-side wal panel 21 is folded about the corner score 25 and the end wall panel 24 is folded about its corner score 25, the before described adhesive coated areas are brought into Wall corner face contact and bonded to provide a container in collapsed condition as shown in FIGURE 3, with the connecting flap 28 adhesively or otherwise secured to the subjacent marginal edge 26 of the end wall 25. In this condition, the container may be stored or shipped to the final user and is ready for automatic assembly to the erected condition by the mere exertion of pressure on the remote edges 59.

I As shown in FIGURE 4, the erected container formed from the unitary blank 20 when erected to article receiving condition includes an automatically erecting and locking bottom closure 34 and divider assembly 45. Looking at FIGURE 4 in connection with FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, we see that the divider assembly is comprised of two sections in foldable slidable relation which are connected at the transverse dividers by the overlapping lateral tabs 51, 56, 57. Each such section is comprised in this 6 cell embodiment of the invention of a single ply end longitudinal member 48, a double ply transverse member 49 and 53, an intermediate longitudinal member 54 and a single ply transverse member 55. Further, each section is associated with an adjacent pair of side and end walls, more specifically 22-23 and 21 and 24. It is characteristic of these members that the intermediate longitudinal members 54 are in slidable, separable relation and the end longitudinal members 48 are foldably connected through the triangular portions of the bottom end flaps 36-37 to the end flaps and by the adhesive securement of these triangular portions to the sideflaps whereby upon the erection of the container the longitudinal divider members 48 are brought into disposition medially of the width of the container and adjacent the end walls'thereof. It is also to be noted, as best shown in FIGURE 5, that the single ply transverse dividers 55 are limited in their lateral extension whereby the outer edges thereof are in spaced relation to the respective side walls 21-22 of the container so that slidable passage of the end edges 60 and the inner surface of the sidewalls 21-22 is possible during the collapsing or erection of the container. It is also characteristic of the invention that each of the sections of the divider assembly 45 as for example the first and second divider portions which comprise one section are associated with a pair of adjacent side and end walls 21-24 and the other section comprised of divider portions dependent from the bottom closure flaps 36-39 and the paired side and end walls 22-23. This arrangement of the sections is apparent in cross sectional view in FIGURE 7 wherein the side by side foldably connected relation of the members comprising each section is shown.

FIGURES 8 and 9 show an embodiment of the invention in a 12 cell carton wherein the cell arrangement includes two rows of 6 cells each running longitudinally carton.

of thecarton. Referring more particularly to FIGURE 8, it may be seen that the carton is similar to the previ- V ously described embodiment of the invention including top flaps 61, side and end wall panels 62 and bottom closure flaps 63. The divider assembly 64 is modified, however, and will be described in detail. In the embodiment shown the intermediate longitudinal member 65 of each section is extended in length to equal four cells in longitudinal dimension. The intermediate longitudinal member is provided with diagonally arranged slots 65 which are terminated in spaced relation to the bottom edge $7 and top edge 68.

The slots 66 determine therebetween intermediate trans. verse divider members 69. The intermediate divider members 69 are terminated at their inner edge by score lines 7% which serve as a hinge connection to the intermediate longitudinal members 65. At their outer ends, the intermediate transverse divider members 69 are terminated in score lines 71 which serve as a hinge connection to outer longitudinal connecting members 72'. The outer longitudinal connecting members 72 are defined more particularly by the top edges 68 of the divider assembly 64, the beforementioned score line 71 and diagonal slotsdd and at the end extremities thereof by the free edge 73 and score line 72%. This latter score line 74 serves as a hinge connection to intermediate transverse divider member 75.

It is to be noted that the transverse member 76, is modified in comparison to the first described embodiment of the invention, to adapt the invention to a 12 cell carton, by the horizontal slot 77 which divides the transverse member 76 from the end portions of the outer longitudinal member 72.

The first divider portion 78 is identical to the first described embodiment, FIGURES 1 through 7, except that the connecting tab 7? is modified by a horizontal dividing slot 8% so that the lower portion 81 may be connected to the transverse member 76 and the upper portion 82 is connected to the free edge portion 73 of the outer longitudinal connecting member 72. As in the first described embodiment the first and second divider port-ions, 78 and 95 respectively, are connected together to form one section of the divider assembly 64. The second section 83 is identical in construction except that, of course, the portions thereof are integrally connected as best shown in FIGURE 8 and the connecting tab 79 is not required.

Looking more particularly to FIGURE -9, we can see that the outer longitudinal connecting members 72 of' each section of the divider assembly are disposed adjacent and in slidable relation to the side Wall panels of the The intermediate transverse divider members 69 and extend between the outer longitudinal connect ing member 72 and the intermediate longitudinal member 65 on each side to divide the intermediate portions of the carton into the required cellular compartments,

A further embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URES 10 and 11 is similar to that shown in the beforedescribed FIGURES 8 and 9, having side and end wall panels 83 and 84 respectively, top flaps 85 and bottom flaps 86. The divider assembly 87 in this embodiment is similar to that disclosed in FIGURES 8 and 9 except that it includes an erecting tab 88 struck from the transverse member 75 and adjacent portions of the outer Ion-- gitudinal connecting member 72 of each divider as sembly section. v

The erecting tab 88 is defined by a cut line 89 in spaced relation to the diagonal slot '66 and includes a securing tab 9% defined by the generally L-shaped out line 91 in the outer longitudinal connecting member 72. The erecting tab 88 is hingedly connected to the intermediate longitudinal member 92 by the score line 93. Each of' the securing tabs are adhesively connected to the opposed divider assembly section outer longitudinal connecting member 94 when the carton .is erected in the manner as described in relation toFIGURES 2 and 3 of the first embodiment of'the invention.

It will be seen in FIGURE 11 that the erecting tab 88 provides a connection between the intermediate longitudinal member 92 of one divider assembly section and the opposed divider assembly section outer longitudinal connecting member 94. It will be noted that the erecting tab 88 is disposed in vertical alignment with one intermediate transverse divider member 95 and thus corresponds to the desired cellular arrangement in the erected carton.

Panticular embodiments of the invention involving 6 and 12 cell arrangements have been described but it is apparent that other modified forms are possible and in particular that the succession of side end Wall panels of the carton may be reversed while practicing the novel construction of the bottom closure and integral dividers assembly of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the embodiments herein described are illustrative and not restrictive, and it is also to be understood that the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in other modified forms and all such modifications which are similar to or equivalent hereto come equally Within the scope of the claims next appearing.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed, are defined as follows:

1. A collapsible multiple cell carton formed from a unitary blank With foldably connected upright side and end walls and a bottom closure comprising side and end flaps in hinged relation to the respective upright Walls, a divider assembly comprising longitudinal and transverse dividers in hinged relation to the bottom closure flaps with portions of the divider assembly including longitudinal and transverse members integrally and foldably connected to each bottom flap, each bottom flap and the respective connected divider assembly members in fiatwise contacting relation with the respective Wall of the container in the collapsed condition.

2. A collapsible multiple cell carton with foldably connected side and end walls and a bottom closure comprising side and end flaps in hinged relation to the respective side and end walls, a divider assembly comprising longitudinal and transverse dividers in hinged relation to the bottom closure flaps with portions of the divider assembly including longitudinal and transverse members in foldably connected relation to each other and to each respective bottom flap, the divider assembly and bottom closure flaps intolded in tlatwise contacting relation to the side and end walls in the collapsed condition of the respective carton and automatically expandable to operative position upon the erecting of the Walls to expanded tubular relation.

3. A collapsible multiple cell carton with foldably connected side and end Walls and a bottom closure comprising side and end flaps in hinged relation to the respective side and end walls, a divider assembly comprising longitudinal and transverse dividers in hinged relation to the end edges of the bottom closure flaps with portions of the divider assembly including longitudinal and transverse members in foldably connected relation to each other and to each respective bottom flap, the portions of the divider assembly connected to an adjacent pair of side and end Walls being integrally and foldably connected together forming a first section and the remaining portions connected to the other pair of side and end walls in secured together relation forming a second similar section, said sections being in flatwise contacting relation to the respective pairs of side and end walls in the collapsed condition of the carton and automatically expandable to operative position upon the erecting of the walls to expanded tubular relation.

4. A collapsible multiple cell carton with foldably connected side and end Walls and a bottom closure comprising side and end flaps in hinged relation to the respective side and end Walls, a divider assembly comprising longitudinal and transverse dividers in hinged relation to the end edges of the bottom closure flaps with portions of the divider assembly including longitudinal and transverse members in foldably connected relation to each other and to each respective bottom flap, the portions of the divider assembly connected to an adjacent pair of side and end walls being integrally and foldably connected together forming a first section and the remaining portions connected to the other pair of side and end Walls forming a second similar section, said sections being in flatwise contacting relation to the respective pair of side and end walls in the collapsed condition of the carton, the first and second sections being connected together by means of tabs in planar relation with their respective section and connected to at least one transverse member of the first section in the collapsed condition of the carton and secured to a transverse member of the second section in alignment therewith, thereby retaining such alignment in the collapsed and in the open operative condition of the carton.

5. A collapsible multiple cell carton with foldably connected side and end Walls and a bottom closure comprising side and end flaps in hinged relation to the respective side and end walls, a divider assembly comprising longitudinal and transverse dividers in hinged relation to the end edges of the bottom closure flaps with portions of the divider assembly including longitudinal and transverse members in foldably connected relation to each other and to each respective bottom flap, the portions of the divider assembly connected to an adjacent pair of side and end walls being integrally and foldably connected together forming a first section and the remaining portions connected to the other pair of side and end walls forming a second similar section, said sections being in fiatwise contacting relation to the respective pair of side and end walls in the collapsed condition of the carton, the bottom flaps of each said paired side and end Walls having free side edges determining -a slot separating said flaps, the bottom end flaps of each such pair being foldably connected to the opposed pair bottom side flap by means of overlapping portions in secured together relation, the connected together flaps each remaining in planar relation throughout their extent including the overlapping secured together portions in the collapsed condition of the carton.

-6. A collapsible multiple cell carton according to claim 5 wherein the said overlapping secured portions of the bottom end flaps is determined by an angular told line to enable folding thereof in the erection of the canton.

7. A collapsible multiple cell carton with foldably connected side and end walls and a bottom closure comprising side and end flaps in hinged relation to the respective side and end walls, a divider assembly comprising longitudinal and transverse dividers in hinged relation to the end edges of the bottom closure flaps with portions of the divider assembly including longitudinal and transverse members in foldably connected relation to each other and to each respective bottom flap, the portions of the divider assembly connected to an adjacent pair of side and end walls being integrally and foldably connected together forming a first section and the remaining portions connected to the other pair of side and end walls forming a second similar section, said sections being in flatwise contacting relation to the respective pair of side and end Walls in the collapsed condition of the carton, the first and second sect-ions being connected together by means of tabs in planar relation with their respective section and connected to at least one transverse member of the first section and secured to a transverse member of the second section in alignment therewith, each divider assembly section being provided with an intermediate longitudinal member disposed between transverse members with said intermediate longitudinal members in separable slidable relation to each other.

8. A collapsible multiple cell carton according to claim 7 wherein intermediate transverse dividers are cut from the intermediate longitudinal members with the inner ends of said dividers in hingedly connected relation to the respective longitudinal member.

9. A Collapsible multiple cell carton according to claim 7 8 wherein the intermediate transve'rse'dividers of each divider assembly section are connected at their outer ends by outer longitudinal members in hingedly connected relation thereto, said outer longitudinal members each in slidable contacting relation to a side wall panel.

10. A collapsible multiple cell carton according to claim 9 wherein erecting tabs are struck from the intermediate transverse members, said connecting tabs being hingedly connected to the respective intermediate longitudinal members and connected in hinged relation to the opposite section outer longitudinal connecting member.

11. A collapsiblemul tiple cell carton having side and end walls connected together in foldable relation and 'a bottom closure hingedly connected to each side and end wall and including side bottom flaps and end bottom flaps having inner end edges parallel to their respective hinge connections to the side and end walls, longitudinal and transverse dividers adapted to collapsing to flatwise relation with the vertical walls'of the container, the dividers being hingedly connected to the inner end edges of the side and end bottom flaps with a transverse and longitudinal divider portion associated with each such bottom flap, the dividers in cooperation with the carton Walls defining a pair of end cells at each end of the carton and at least two cells intermediate said end cells, the end cells separated by end longitudinal divider members integral with the endrbottom flaps and separated from the intermediate cells by end transverse dividers, intermediate longitudinal divider members separating the at least two cells intermediate said end cells, said end transverse dividers each including paired transverse members with one transverse member hinged to the end longitudinal divider member and the end bottom flaps, the second transverse member hinged to the respective intere mediate longitudinal divider member, the said paired transverse members having overlapping portions thereof in secured relation and the members being in fixed substantially linear relation.

12. A collapsible multiple cell carton according to claim 11 wherein the intermediate longitudinal divider members comprise two plies in separable and slidable relation to each other. 7

13. A collapsible multiple cell carton according to claim 12 wherein the said one transverse members are comprised of a double ply with the plies foldably connected at their outer extremities and in fiatwise relation in the erected condition of the carton, the intermediate longitudinal members each being foldably connected to the adjacent ply of the respective one transverse member.

14. A collapsible multiple cell carton according to claim 12 wherein intermediate transverse dividers are struck from the intermediate longitudinal divider plies and project laterally therefrom in the erected condition of the carton. V

15. A collapsible multiple cell carton according to claim 14 wherein the intermediate transverse dividers are connected together at their outer extremities by outer longitudinal connecting members in hingedly connected relation thereto, the outer longitudinal connecting members being in slidabl-e relation to the respective adjacent side Wall of the carton. I

16. A collapsible multiple cell carton according to claim 15 wherein the outer longitudinal connecting members are each connected in hingedrelation to the outer ends of the double ply end transverse dividers.

17. A collapsible multiple cell carton according to claim 15 wherein erecting tabs are hingedly connected to each ply of the intermediate longitudinal divider and secured in foldable relation to the opposite outer longitudinal connecting member in vertical alignment with on intermediate transverse divider members.

References Cited by'the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,909,311 10/59 Levitt 229 28 3,006,529 10/ 61 Richardson 22928 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE MULTIPLE CELL CARTON FORMED FROM A UNITARY BLANK WITH FOLDABLY CONNECTED UPRIGHT SIDE AND END WALLS AND A BOTTOM CLOSURE COMPRISING SIDE AND END FLAPS IN HINGED RELATION TO THE RESPECTIVE UPRIGHT WALLS, A DIVIDER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE DIVIDERS IN HINGED RELATION TO THE BOTTOM CLOSURE FLAPS WITH PORTIONS OF THE DIVIDER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE MEMBERS INTEGRALLY AND FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO EACH BOTTOM FLAP, EACH BOTTOM FLAP AND THE RESPECTIVE CONNECTED DIVIDER ASSEMBLY MEMBERS IN FLATWISE CONTACTING RWLATION WITH THE RESPECTIVE WALL OF THE CONTAINER IN THE COLLAPSED CONDITION. 